Renewable energy vote looms in Colo. House

DENVER—A controversial bill that could raise power bills in rural Colorado was expected to see a final vote Tuesday in the state House.

The bill would require a higher renewable energy standard for Colorado's rural cooperative electric associations. The bill requires the electricity co-ops to get 20 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2020, up from 10 percent.

The measure limits consumer rate hikes to pay for the renewable energy upgrade to 2 percent. But the co-ops affected warn it would drive up prices for mostly rural customers.

The bill also expands the definition of renewable energy to include coal-mine methane and gas produced from solid waste. The bill has already passed the Senate in a stronger form.

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